In Canada, the cold weather presents challenges for beekeepers, as highlighted in a 2025 report by the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, which revealed that over 41% of honeybee colonies in Alberta did not survive the winter that year.
To address this issue, Beekeeping Innovations Ltd., based in the Calgary area, has introduced an innovative solution known as the Bee Cube. This climate-controlled apiary, located in Okotoks, is designed to provide a comfortable environment for multiple honeybee colonies throughout the winter season.
Herman Van Reekum, the founder and CEO of the company, emphasized the primary objective of ensuring the bees’ well-being during the colder months. Additionally, the Bee Cube offers a unique opportunity to revolutionize Canada’s beekeeping industry by focusing on the efficient production of queens in a safe and cost-effective manner.
Van Reekum highlighted the significance of locally breeding queens to reduce the dependence on imported foreign queen bees. Currently, Canadian beekeepers import approximately 300,000 queen bees annually from countries like Australia, New Zealand, California, and Hawaii, which may not adapt well to the Canadian environment and could introduce harmful pests like varroa mites.
He expressed concerns about the potential threat of the Tropilaelaps mite, an invasive pest that could devastate honeybee colonies if introduced to North America. By promoting domestic queen bee production, Van Reekum believes beekeepers can mitigate the risks associated with importing foreign bees and ensure a resilient bee population.
The process of queen bee production involves selecting and nurturing larvae with royal jelly to develop into queens. These queens play a vital role in colony reproduction and are carefully managed to prevent conflicts within the hive. Creating a sustainable source of local queens not only helps control mite infestations but also enhances the genetic resilience of bees to survive harsh Canadian winters.
In Alberta, which leads Canada in honey production, there are around 16,000 beekeepers managing 850,000 bee colonies. The province contributes significantly to the country’s honey industry and agricultural economy. Canada’s honey harvest in 2025 was valued at $241 million, underscoring the importance of beekeeping in supporting pollination services for various crops and sustaining agricultural productivity.
Van Reekum emphasized the critical role of bees in pollinating crops that form a significant portion of our diet, highlighting the essential contributions of honeybees to food production and biodiversity.